Exclusive: On patrol with special crime team in Huddersfield

May 15 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT IS 12.30am and the call comes over the radio that a suspicious-looking white van has been stopped by officers.

“We'll be there in two minutes,” says Det Insp Jim Griffiths.

I’m sitting in the detective inspector’s car after being given exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to a new police anti-burglary operation.

When we get to our destination, on Spring Bank at Liversedge, officers are asking two men in a Transit van they are driving around in the early hours of a Thursday morning.

The driver, who made an attempt to avoid being stopped, said they are on their way to pick up a friend.

There is good reason not to believe the story – both the men have criminal records for offences including burglary and theft.

A search of the van uncovers a crowbar in the back.

But one of the occupants runs a legitimate window-fitting business and claims it is a tool of the trade.

There is no evidence of any wrongdoing and no concrete grounds for arrest, so the van is allowed on its way home – with a police escort.

On this occasion no offence has been committed, but there is a fair chance that the officers may have prevented one from taking place.

And that is one of the objectives of Operation Tablecloth.

The confusingly-titled operation was set up to target burglars working in Kirklees hotspots following an alarming spike in car thefts.

In November police noticed a worrying trend developing. Burglars were using new techniques, which Det Insp Griffiths asked us not to mention, to gain access to houses in the small hours, search for car keys and then drive off in the owners’ cars.